Attempts to Roll-Back Energy Code Improvements To-Date

Greenbuildingsolutions.org has tracked legislative and regulatory attempts to roll-back, weaken, or delay implementation of the energy codes in thirteen states so far in 2019. You might be surprised to learn that list includes Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, and New Hampshire. 

For example, in Nebraska LB 384 was introduced to freeze the energy code at the current 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) level while allowing all other building codes to be updated to the 2018 model code. This is despite the fact that the Nebraska Energy Office found that updating the statewide energy code to the 2018 IECC could significantly reduce the energy use in Nebraskan homes and save residents money on their energy bills, an average of $191/year.

In Nebraska and elsewhere, green building advocates need to stay tuned, get engaged, and speak up to help support a strong energy code.

If you are a builder: talk to your Homebuilders Association and find out their position on the state energy code. Let them know you want your dues to support updating energy codes, not opposing them!

Here’s How to Register Municipal, County and State Entities

If you work for any level of government (“A governmental unit, department or agency engaged in the administration, formulation, implementation or enforcement of laws, ordinances, rules or regulations relating to the public health, safety and welfare.”) you may be an eligible voter in the ICC code development process and able to support improving the next version of the energy code. More information on getting involved is available here. Your department may have up to twelve (12) votes for the code if registered and a paid-up member of the International Codes Council. The ICC bylaws allocate the number of Governmental Member Voting Representatives by population as follows:

Population	Voting Representatives	Jurisdiction Cost (Bargain)
0 to 50,000	4	$135/year
50,001 to 150,000	8	$240/year
Over 150,000	12	$370/year

 

 

New York Times March 20, 2019 Opinion:

“An Important Vote for the Climate”

Perhaps five minutes of your time and $135-$370 (International Code Council (ICC) Fees, based on population) is all it takes to secure each of your city’s ICC Governmental Memberships and VOTES.

If you are a concerned official, citizen or green building advocate you can help by reaching out to your state building commission or code council and telling them to adopt the latest edition of the IECC. The status of your State Energy Code Adoption and links to the relevant state agencies are here. Or get in touch with your regional energy efficiency partnership:

Additional Resources:

• Watch A Boston Council Member Register in Less than Five Minutes (12 Votes!)
• Click here to Register as a Governmental Member with the International Code Council
• Mayors Fact Sheet and Checklist
• How to participate in the 2021 IECC Development Process
• Uniting Cities to Accelerate Focus on the Economic and Climate Benefits of Boosting America’s Building Energy Efficiency

UPDATE: Reader Energy Code Advocacy Hits Mark – Your Participation Made a Difference

Working closely with the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), www.GreenBuildingSolutions.org helped register more “Governmental Entities” to vote for energy efficiency than ever before. According to the ICC, over 1,000 governmental entities registered over last year’s numbers. End of this year energy code online voting (November Energy Code) is strictly limited to those who registered by March 29, 2019. We wanted to register as many energy-efficiency-favoring municipal, county and state officials as possible. By doing so, we can help turn out the vote this November for energy efficiency improvements to the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code. GreenBuildingSolutions.org thanks its participating readers and sharers.